Photo Gallery: Jakarta Old Town in ruins, but hopes for a better future

Ed Wray, Getty Images06.19.2013

Indonesian women sose for a friend in front of one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.

Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian woman poses for her friend on an old canon in front of the former Jakarta Governor's house in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian youth looks at information related to a tableau at the National History museum in Kota Tua Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Indonesian tourists pay to enter the National History museum in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian man selling fruit walks with his wares in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Merchants put up temporary market stalls in front of one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian woman selling coconut juice cleans a table at her stall in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Members of a photo club photograph a model in one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Members of a photo club photograph a model in one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Indonesian tourists look at a display of old office machinery at the Museum Mandiri banking museum in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Indonesian tourists look over examples of old office equipment at the Museum Mandiri banking museum in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Vendors set up shop in Kota Tua Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Vines and branches grow through one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Indonesian men sit and chat in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Indonesian men prepare to put up a temporary market stall in front of one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian tourist looks over example of wayang puppets at the Wayang museum in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

Old buildings built by the Dutch overlook a polluted canal in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

A three wheeled taxi called a Bajaj drives past an abandoned building in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

An Indonesian tourist looks over example of wayang puppets at the Wayang museum in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

A drink vendor's equipment is stored in the ruins of an old dutch building in Kota Tua in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

A tree grows through a landmark building, one of the many crumbling buildings in Kota Tua Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Once known as the "Queen of the East", Kota Tua, which means Old Town in Indonesian, is the original city of Jakarta built by the Dutch in the 16th century and called Batavia at that time. Currently, Kota Tua's beautiful Colonial architecture is in ruins, abandoned as the city edged farther south over the years. Jakarta's Governor, Joko Widodo, hopes to make it a priority to restore the old town and develop it into a high end tourist destination.Ed Wray
/ Getty Images

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